Printing plate for monotype prints having viscoelastic gels and method for its use

Abstract

A printing plate for monotype prints includes a viscoelastic gel composition having a viscoelastic polymer selected from a hydrogenated poly-isoprene/butadiene polymer, poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene)n, poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene)n, poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene)n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene)n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene)n, poly(styrene- ethylene-butylene)n, polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane and silicone, and a combination thereof, and a plasticizing oil. The viscoelastic gel composition has a smooth surface and is formed as a sheet and shaped for use as a printing plate. A method for using the elastomeric gel printing plates of the present invention is also provided.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A printing apparatus using a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate for producing a plurality of prints, comprising:
 an acrylic paint;   a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate capable of producing a first print, said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate comprising a viscoelastic gel composition having a viscoelastic polymer selected from the group consisting of a hydrogenated poly-isoprene/butadiene polymer, poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene) n , poly(styrene-iso-prene-styrene), poly-(styrene-isoprene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene) n , polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyethylene and silicone, and a combination thereof, and a plasticizing oil, said viscoelastic gel composition excludes gelatin and has a smooth surface formed as a sheet and shaped for use as said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate;   a smooth, flat, nonporous barrier surface onto which said acrylic paint for creating a first print is to be transferred from said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate;   means for applying pressure for transferring at least a portion of said acrylic paint from said non-gelatin, visco-elastic gel printing plate to said smooth, flat, nonporous barrier surface for producing said first print; and,   means for applying pressure for transferring at least a portion of said acrylic paint from said non-gelatin, visco-elastic gel printing plate to said smooth, flat, nonporous barrier surface for producing a second print, said printing apparatus excluding means for cleaning said acrylic paint from said smooth, flat, nonporous barrier surface prior to producing said second print.   
     
     
         14 . The printing apparatus using a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate for producing a plurality of prints according to claim  12 , wherein said smooth, flat, nonporous barrier surface includes polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         15 . The printing apparatus using a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate for producing a plurality of prints according to  claim 13 , further comprising means for storage of said printing apparatus, including said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate, at room temperature. 
     
     
         16 . A printing apparatus using a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate for producing a plurality of prints, comprising:
 an oil-based paint;   a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate capable of producing a first print, said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate comprising a viscoelastic gel composition having a viscoelastic polymer selected from the group consisting of a hydrogenated poly-isoprene/butadiene polymer, poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene) n , poly(styrene-iso-prene-styrene), poly-(styrene-isoprene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene) n , polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyethylene and silicone, and a combination thereof, and a plasticizing oil, said viscoelastic gel composition excludes gelatin and has a smooth surface formed as a sheet and shaped for use as said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate;   a smooth, flat, nonporous barrier surface onto which said oil-based paint for creating a first print is to be transferred from said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate;   means for applying pressure for transferring at least a portion of said oil-based paint from said non-gelatin, visco-elastic gel printing plate to said smooth, flat, non-porous barrier surface for producing said first print;   means for cleaning said non-gelatin, visco-elastic gel printing plate after producing first print, said means for cleaning including baby oil and a paper towel; and,   means for applying pressure for transferring at least a portion of said oil-based paint from said non-gelatin, visco-elastic gel printing plate to said smooth, flat, non-porous barrier surface for producing a second print.   
     
     
         17 . The printing apparatus using a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate for producing a plurality of prints according to  claim 16 , wherein said smooth, flat, nonporous barrier surface includes polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         18 . The printing apparatus using a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate for producing a plurality of prints according to  claim 16 , further comprising means for storage of said printing apparatus, including said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate, at room temperature. 
     
     
         19 . A printing apparatus using a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate for producing a plurality of prints, comprising:
 a water-based paint;   a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate capable of producing a first print, said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate comprising a viscoelastic gel composition having a viscoelastic polymer selected from the group consisting of a hydrogenated poly-isoprene/butadiene polymer, poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene) n , poly(styrene-iso-prene-styrene), poly-(styrene-isoprene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), polystyrene-ethylene-propylene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene) n , polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyethylene and silicone, and a combination thereof, and a plasticizing oil, said viscoelastic gel composition excludes gelatin and has a smooth surface formed as a sheet and shaped for use as said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate;   a smooth, flat, nonporous barrier surface onto which said water-based paint for creating a first print is to be transferred from said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate;   means for applying pressure for transferring at least a portion of said water-based paint from said non-gelatin, visco-elastic gel printing plate to said smooth, flat, non-porous barrier surface for producing said first print;   means for cleaning said non-gelatin, visco-elastic gel printing plate after producing first print, said means for cleaning including mild soap and water; and,   means for applying pressure for transferring at least a portion of said water-based paint from said non-gelatin, visco-elastic gel printing plate to said smooth, flat, non-porous barrier surface for producing a second print.   
     
     
         20 . The printing apparatus using a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate for producing a plurality of prints according to  claim 19 , wherein said smooth, flat, nonporous barrier surface includes polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         21 . The printing apparatus using a non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate for producing a plurality of prints according to  claim 19 , further comprising means for storage of said printing apparatus, including said non-gelatin, viscoelastic gel printing plate, at room temperature.